A local functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was hacked to death and another one suffered serious injuries in an attack allegedly by Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] workers, near Kathirur, here on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as Elanthottathil Manoj, 42. RSS worker K. Pramod, 35, who sustained injuries in the attack, has been admitted to a hospital at Thalassery. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS have called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district on Tuesday in protest against the murder.
According to the police, Manoj and Pramod were going from Kathirur, between Thalassery and Koothuparamba, to nearby Ukkasmotta in a Maruti Omni van at around 11.30 a.m. when a group of assailants, allegedly CPI(M) workers, hurled country-made bombs at the vehicle. The van lost control, hit a wall and stopped. The assailants then stabbed both Manoj and Pramod. Having suffered multiple stab injuries, both were rushed to the Indira Gandhi Cooperative Hospital at Thalassery. Manoj was declared dead on arrival. Pramod is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Ukkasmotta and nearby areas had been tense for the past few days after a long interval of peace. The region had witnessed retaliatory political violence until a few years ago.
The killing of the RSS functionary cast a shadow over the prevailing lull in the politically volatile areas near Thalassery and Panur. The latest incident comes only a couple of days after a Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh worker, Nucholi Suresh, 44, had died in an attack by alleged CPI(M) workers.
Senior police officers, including District Police Chief P.N. Unnirajan, are camping in the area in view of the tense situation. Mr. Unnirajan told The Hindu that the law and order situation was now under control as additional forces, including the Kerala Armed Police, had been deployed in the tense-prone areas to avert any untoward incident.
